Figure 8.

Preparation and mechanism of action of the lactate-aerobic respiration-inhibiting photodynamic therapy strategy suggested by Qin et al. [182]. The nanostructure was prepared by chemically conjugating chlorin-e6 with D-α-tocopherol polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) and, by hydrophobic π–π stacking interactions, α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamate (CHC) units were co-assembled. Each of these elements was important for the therapeutic activity of the nanoparticle: CHC allowed the inhibition of lactate aerobic respiration, allowing the saving of triplet molecular oxygen required for the improved photodynamic activity of chlorin-e6, as well as TPGS, which, interacting with the mitochondrial complex II, induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. These ROS, conjugated to singlet oxygen produced by chlorin-e6 activated after irradiation, culminate in cell death.